President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Kravtsov, you provided me with documents, and I know that work is actively underway on the Education System Development Strategy and on the education system as a whole. How do you assess the progress from the Ministry’s perspective?
Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov: The Education Development Strategy, which is being prepared in line with your instructions, is nearing completion. We have discussed it with teachers, the professional education community, the Council and the Presidium of the Council for Education and Science, the Civic Chamber, the State Duma, and the Federation Council. Overall, the initiative has received widespread support. The draft Strategy is now ready, and we will present it to you for approval shortly.
I would like to emphasise that the most important aspect of the Strategy is the foundation we are building on, and our response to the challenges facing our country, including those in the field of education, such as the development of artificial intelligence and issues related to migration policy.
However, maintaining the high quality of education remains our key priority. Following your instructions, starting this academic year we approved an order introducing a unified curriculum for all subjects, clearly defining what should be taught at each grade level. We have also standardised students’ academic workload, homework assignments, and testing procedures. Today, every school follows unified, high-level federal educational programmes, ensuring that all schoolchildren receive a high-quality education, regardless of their location or whether they attend a rural or urban school. This important initiative has received positive feedback from the teaching community. Our next task is to ensure its full implementation in every school.
We already have results. Mr President, may I invite you to review the outcomes of our international Olympiads? Over the past five years, we have increased the number of gold medals.
We are working in collaboration with Sirius. What is particularly important is that while Moscow is the leader in this area, other regions are also producing winners of international Olympiads. The task is to maintain our leadership in the future.
We have fulfilled your instruction: our country has entered the top ten in terms of the quality of school education. Separately, we are working with underperforming school students: their number has decreased by ten percentage points over five years, from 25 to 15 percent.
We are also implementing your instruction to improve the quality of natural science education to ensure the country’s technological leadership. The number of high achievers – students who scored more than 80 points in natural science subjects…
Vladimir Putin: …has more than doubled.
Sergei Kravtsov: Yes. The average score in specialised math programme has risen from 58 to 64, as well as in physics and chemistry. We will continue this work. The strategy also identifies the development of natural science education as one of its priorities.
Mr President, your instruction on unified history textbooks has been fulfilled. Since the last academic year, all students in grades 10–11 have been studying from unified textbooks; this year, grades 5–7 have been added, and from next year, we will transition to unified state textbooks for grades 8 and 9. Work is also being finalised for social studies textbooks for grades 9 and 10. Starting from September 1, 2027, unified state textbooks will be introduced for natural science subjects, which we are preparing together with the Academy of Sciences, as well as for Russian language and literature. Thus, by 2028, we will complete the full range of unified state textbooks for major subjects, as you mentioned.
Additionally, as per your instruction – reflected in the Strategy – a unified system of educational work has been established.
We are implementing the No Statute of Limitations project and collaborating with the Movement of the First. Students visit historical parks such as Russia – My History and New Chersonesus. We are actively working with the Znaniye Society. Every school has introduced the position of an adviser to the headmaster for education.
The foundation of all educational work lies in our traditional values: love for the Motherland, family values and, more broadly, the task of fostering civic identity. It is crucial that this work is carried out sincerely and not just formally – this is precisely what we are working on, and it remains one of our key priorities.
It is also essential to protect young people from destructive content. All schools have now switched to the national messenger MAX, which is already used by over 20 million teachers and students. This secure platform provides access to diaries, school assignments, enrolment processes for kindergartens and schools. We continue to refine its functions.
Regarding teaching staff, you also set the task of supporting teachers. Today, there are twelve applicants for each place in pedagogical universities – a level of interest we have never seen before. Young people are stepping forward.
Vladimir Putin: This work must continue – raising the prestige of teaching, not only in schools but also in vocational and higher education institutions, though schools should remain the primary focus.
Sergei Kravtsov: We do this kind of work, and there are tangible results. Naturally, challenges remain. We have established a council to protect the honour and dignity of teachers and have sent instructions to the regions, including guidance on working with aggressive students.
Finally, I would like to report on the development of colleges. Here, too, we have achieved excellent results: 3.9 million students are enrolled in colleges. These figures are comparable to those in the RSFSR, when four million students were enrolled.
Regarding your instruction on training one million highly skilled workers by 2028, we will even exceed this target, training over 1.3 million.
Our colleges are also actively contributing to supporting the front for our victory. They are working actively.
Vladimir Putin: We have discussed this topic repeatedly. It is necessary to ensure direct links with future employers and to create modern production facilities and laboratories, in cooperation with these employers. This is the key to successful employment.
Sergei Kravtsov: Yes, Mr President. We will proceed accordingly.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
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